Why You Should Host an Event and How to Do It

 Two years into comedy I started hosting a bi-weekly open mic at Java Monkey in Decatur, GA. After 8 years later, this open mic grew into a weekly comedy showcase voted Best of Atlanta’s Best Local Comedy Show by Creative Loafing. Here are the lessons I learned.

The number 1 piece of advice I’ve always gotten is to stay on stage. Well, there is no better way to do that then hosting. Well, who gets the most stage time at an open mic? The host. So a host I became. Getting paid to get more stage time is also a nice perk.

 EVENT LOCATION

Why Java Monkey?

I was working in Decatur washing dishes and knew they hosted both music and poetry nights. So, comedy felt like the perfect fit. They also already had a built-in following in the community, a stage, and their own sound system. 

Venue Tip: Wherever you decide to host your show, make sure the venue is a good fit. That’s the only way your show will last. My show lasted 8 years, before the venue burned down, because it was complimentary to their already established culture.

 EVENT FORMAT

Why choose open mic vs. booked showcase?

Both formats have their pros and cons. A booked showcase is the easiest way to ensure an entertaining show for audience members. Word of mouth is your best marketing tool as a show producer, which is why an open mic can be risky. You don’t have the workload of booking a show, but you are accountable for whoever performs on your stage. What they say reflects directly back on you as the host. 

Format Tip: Running a show is very time consuming and the less stressful it is the more sustainable it will be. An open mic format saves you the time and stress of having to organize the show and more importantly having comics heckle you for stage time on a daily basis. Seriously comics, the best way to get booked on shows is to be funny instead of annoying.

 NEGOTIATING PAY

How did I negotiate pay?

Every venue is going to have a different approach to pay. That’s why it’s important to research venues and have a game plan before approaching them about a show. If they do other shows, how do those finances work? Is there a cover charge to those shows? Who is responsible for marketing the show?

My personal experience was a flat fee and bar tab for the comics and me. They laid the terms out to me and I accepted without any negotiation. I had only been doing comedy two years when this show started, so I was just happy for the stage time. Over time I was able to renegotiate the terms, but only after I had established the show as a sustaining asset of their business.

Money Tip: There are several options available when it comes to getting paid to host a show: Door deals, Bar splits, Audience donations are just a few options. Whatever you decide on with the venue, make sure each side’s expectations are thoroughly documented. Will they be helping you with marketing? Do you need to bring your own equipment? Do they have proper lighting? These are all factors to consider when picking a venue and can also be used as leverage when negotiating pay.

My Top Lesson Learned

The top lesson learned was stage presence. Hosting is a crash course on crowd work, handling hecklers, developing your voice, how to connect with an audience.

If you're wanting to get better at hosting, join my event hosting workshop this Monday, May 13th via the link below.

Also, don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. I'm happy to help!